Balancing and walking device



April 20, 1954 T. c. ABDALLAH BALANCING AND WALKING DEVICE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 4, 1952 Theresa C. Abdallah INVENTOR. Q0520.BY film April 0, 1954 T. c. ABDALLAH BALANCING AND WALKING DEVICE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 4, 1952 Therese C. Abdul/ah INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 20, 1954 UNITED STAT ES PATENT OFFICE 1 2,675,856BALANCING AND DEVICE Therese O. Abdallah, Seattle, Wash. ApplicationFebruary 4, 19 52, SerialNo. 269,784

.10 Claims. (01. ism-v23) V This invention relates-to a balancing-andwalk- --lng device and particularly a therapeutic device for supportingspastic childrenwhile they learn.

to. walk. Y

r In teaching spastic children to walk it. is often cipundthat they arevery- :rigid and are a dead w ight to lift and so extremely hard to work--w-ith.. .Not only is it; necessary to support the spastic. child in anupright position which requires extreme strengthphut is: also frequentlynecessary-to have to utilize the operators hands to :move thee-feet andle s of the. patient. It is th remre frequently extremely difficult forthe physical therapistto support the: patient while at thesame timemoving the'legs in a more or less natural walking fashion; Avariety ofhoist type devices have heretofore :been constructed for assisting a.physical therapist in supporting a patient while teaching him to walk.

' Tha=present invent-ion provides an overhead --carriage having apendulant supporting arm en gaging the body-of the patient sothat'thepatient may Inove in asubstantially straight line andwillnotzhave lateralimotion so that the patient may besupportedwin asafe and careful manner "while the. therapist has his: hands. free. tooperate the limbs and feet ofrthe patient.

It is accordingly an object of this invention'to provide an improvedphysical therapy lift.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a walking andbalancingdevlce'for a spastic patient. It is: a further object of thisinvention to provide a supporting mechanism in which a patient may-movein a substantially straight line, but is supported in a lateraldirection.

It is a further object of this invention to providera supportingmechanism which can be anchored'to the pedal extremitiesof thepatientrso' that the body supporting mechanism will not be uncomfortablyraised.

Other objects and many of the attendantad-l vantages of this inventionwill be apparent from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in c which:

Figure l is an elevation with parts in section sh owing a balancing andwalking device accordine t this invention;

Figure2 is an end view of the supporting device as shown in Figure '1;

Figure '3 is a top \plan view of the walking and balancing deviceshowing the manner of con nectlon;

by the line 5--6 of FigureB;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view through the verticalswivel Joint taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 1-1of Figure 2; and .Figure 8 is "a perspective view of the bod-ysupporting jacket according to the invention.

7. In theexemplary embodiment of the invention an overhead track fllandF2 is supported onsuitable legs l4 herein shown as four in numberalthough obviously any lengthtrack can be used supported on any numberof legs. An overhead carriage comprisesa pair of rail engaging membersIS-"and l8 having rollers 2'! for engagement with thetracks l0 and 12.The rail engaging members I6 and 18' are connected by rigid crossmembers herein indicated as a pair of rodor pipe-like members rigidlysecured to the rail engaging members I 6 and l 8 by any suitable means.suchaswelding. The-central portion of the cross member'ls swivelledwith respect to the end members sothat the central' portion is free tomove in 'an oscillatory fashion in a plane parallel to the rail membersor in other words in a plane "transverse to the cross members.Preferably the "swivel joint i'sprovided with ball or roller bearingmembers so that theoscillat-ion will be quite free. Centrallysupportedin the cross bars 22 and 24 is -a clampplatehaving front members 30 andback members 32 through which extends a' vertically adjustable U-shapedbar as which may be adiusted to any desired posltionbetween theplates '38 and 32' and 'held in position hv means of aclamping screw 36having a wing nut '38. A bi'nttonrr terminal fror the pendulantill-shaped r'nernberfMcomprises a swivel having a plate All attached tothe bottom ends of the U-sliaped member 3A; The plate 40 is providedwith a "cup-shaped depression having an. opening 41 through which isiournaled an end piece 46 having secured thereon a bearing, plate 43 andlocked "inpositiorl byzmeans. of a nut 50. The end piece 3 to the headof the patient so that the head of the patient is laterally supported.Preferably the member 52 is provided with suitable padding 54 so thatthe head of the patient may not be injured by accidental contact withthe bifurcated member 52.

A body engaging member is provided in the form of a leather jacket 60having a plurality of adjustable members such as buckle straps 62 in thefront and a plurality of similar adjustable straps 64 in the back sothat the leather jacket can be adjusted snugly to the body of thepatient. Shoulder straps 68 and 68 are also provided on the jacket andare likewise adjustable to the size of the patient by means of suitableadjustable means such as the buckles 10. The shoulder straps 66 and 68carry upstanding ear or U- shaped members 12 and 14 for engagement withthe bifurcated end of the pendulant support. The lower ends of theinverted U-shaped member 52 are provided with snaps-16 and 18 forengagement with the upstanding ears 12 and '14. In

this manner a jacket 50 can be adjusted to the body of the patient andthe inner structure may be adjusted with respect to thehorizontalcarriage by means of the pendulant member 34 and the shoulder strapsBG-and 68.

In order to prevent'the jacket 60 from riding up under the arms orunderthe chin of the patient suitable legging-like members 80 are applied tothe lowerlimbs of the patient and have straps 82 extending under thepedal extremities or feet so that the legging-like members 80 aresecurely attached to the lower extremities of the patient. A pluralityof straps 86 and 88 are attached to the backs and front respectively ofthe legging-like members and are secured to suitable adjusting meanssuch as buckles 90 and 92 on the bottom of the jacket 60.

In operating the device the pendulant member will be adjusted so thatthe snaps l6 and 18 will properly engage the shoulder supports or ears12 and 14 of the jacket 60 which is firmly secured around the body ofthe patient and also firmly secured to the pedal extremities of thepatient so that the jacket-is properly anchored on the mid-portion ofthe patient. The pendulant member is substantially bifurcated by meansof an inverted U-;shaped member swivelly attached at a portionintermediate thependulant memher. The pendulant member is free to swingin a front or backward position substantially in a plane parallel to theplanes of the tracks by means of swivel members 26 and 28 but it issubstantially rigid to any lateral motion so that the patient is unableto fall sidewise; Hand rails 96 and 98 are preferably provided alongsidethe patient so that he may use his hands to assist himself in movingalong the track. Preferably the rails 96 and 98 are received in"brackets I and 32 mounted on the post l4 and the brackets I00 and 102are provided with a plurality of openings I04 so that the rails 96 and98 may be inserted at any desired height to accommodate the patient. Thepatient while supported in this walking and balancing device may movealong with the assistance of his own hands on the rails Q6 and 98 whilethe physical therapist may manipulate the pedal extremities of thepatient. The swivel member is the pendulant element that permits thepatient to turn completely around so that after he has finished thelength of the bar in one direction he may turn around and go in theother direction, however, he will be at all times protected againstlateral movement because of the substantially rigid mounting of thependulant member with respect to any lateral motion.

While for purpose of illustration a specific embodiment of the inventionhas been disclosed and the same has been described according to the bestof my present understanding thereof, it will be understood, that manychanges and modifications can be made therein, without departing fromthe spirit of my invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A walking device for training patients to walk comprising a trackincluding a pair of spaced apart rails, track engaging means on eachrail, a frame extending between said track engaging means, swivel meansin said frame whereby a portion of said frame may oscillate with respectto said track engaging means, a clamp mounted on said portion, a supportincluding a pair of parallel rodlike members, said support beingadjustably secured in said clamp, aterminal rotatably mounted on saidsupport, and means for releasably attaching said terminal to a bodyengaging member.

2. A walking device for training patients to walk comprising a trackincluding a pair of spaced apart rails, track engaging means on eachrail, a frame extending between said track engaging means, swivel meansin said 'frame whereby a portion of said frame may oscillate withrespect to saidtrack engaging means, a clamp mounted on said portion, asupport including a pair of parallel rodlike' members, said supportadjustably secured in said clamp, a terminal rotatably mounted on saidsupport, and a substantially rigid inverted U-shaped connecting membermounted on said terminal.

3. A walking device for trainingpatients to walk comprising an overheadtrackya carriage mounted on said track, a pendulant support adjustablysecured on said carriagasaid support being journaled on said carriagefor swinging movement in a plane parallel to the track while beingsubstantially rigid in a'direction transverse to said track, and meansfor suspending a body embracing member from said support.

4. A walking device for training patients to walk comprising an overheadtrack, a carriage mounted on said track, a pendulant support adjustablysecured on said carriage, said support being journaled on said carriagefor swinging movement in a plane parallel to the track while beingsubstantially rigid in a direction transverse to said track, and meanson said support substantially limiting lateral movement of the head of apatient.

5. A walking machine comprising an overhead track, a carriage mountedformovement along said track, a pendulant support secured on said carriage,a bifurcated terminal on said support, means for embracing the body of apatient, shoulder straps on said means, fastener means for connectingsaid bifurcated terminal to said shoulder straps, and swivel meansinterposed between said support and said bifurcated terminal.

6. For use in a walking machine having an overhead track, a'pendulantsupport mounted on the track and having a bifurcated terminal, a jacketfor embracing the body of'a patient, shoulder straps on said jacket,means for connecting said bifurcated terminal to said shoulder straps,swivel means interposed between said support and said bifurcatedterminal, means for securing said jacket to the lower extremities of e aatient, a side bar for cooperation with said support and means foradjusting the position of said side bar.

7. A therapy device comprising a substantially rod like track, acarriage including a substantially tubular member engaging said track, aplurality of roller means between said member and said track, a supportdepending from said carriage, said support including a pair ofsubstantially parallel rodlike members, a plate rigidly secured to theend of said members, a bracket swiveled in said plate, a substantiallyrigid inverted U-shaped member secured on said bracket, and snapssecured adjacent the lower ends of said U-shaped member for detachablyconnecting said U-shaped member to a body engaging member.

8. A therapy device comprising a substantially rodlike track, a carriageincluding a substantially tubular member engaging said track, aplurality of roller means between said member and said track, a supportdepending from said carriage, said support including a pair ofsubstantially parallel rodlike members, a plate rigid- 1y secured to theend of said members, a bracket swiveled in said plate, a substantiallyrigid inverted U-shaped member secured on said bracket, a body engagingjacket, a pair of shoulder straps adjustably secured to said jacket,upstanding apertured means on each of said shoulder straps, snapssecured adjacent the lower ends of said U-shaped member for detachablyconnecting said jacket to said U-shaped member, leg engaging means forattachment to the lower extremities of a patient and straps attachingsaid means to said jacket.

9. A therapy device comprising an elevated track including a pair ofparallel spaced apart rodlike rails, a substantially tubular railengaging member on each of said rails, a rigid cross member connectingsaid rail engaging members,

a central portion of said cross member being free to oscillate in aplane transverse to .the cross member, a pendulant U-shaped bar securedto said central portion, said U-shaped bar being vertically adjustable,a swivel plate attached to the bottom of said pendulant U-shaped member,and an inverted U-shaped support member swivelly mounted on said swivelplate.

10. A therapy device comprising an elevated track including a pair ofparallel spaced apart rodlike rails, a substantially tubular railengagingmember on each of said rails, a rigid cross member connectingsaid rail engaging members, a central portion of said cross member beingfree to oscillate in'a plane transverse to the cross member, a pendulantU-shaped bar secured to said central portion, said U-shaped bar beingvertically adjustable, a swivel plate attached to the bottom of saidpendulant U-shaped member, and an inverted U-shaped support memberswivelly mounted on said swivel plate, detachable connectors mountedadjacent the lower ends of said U-shaped support member, said connectorsbeing adapted to secure a body engaging means to said device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,072,959 Kincannon -1 Sept. 9, 1913 1,481,503 Carswell et a1.Jan. 22, 1924 1,577,458 Fish Mar. 23, 1926 1,611,807 Bergh Dec. 21, 19262,369,040 Grady Feb. 6, 1945 2,574,178 I-Ialler Nov. 6, 1951 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 129,939 Great Britain Feb. 14, 1919 536,402France Feb. 10, 1922

